Prep Baseball Report

North AL Preseason All-State: Quick Hits, Pitchers


Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

HARTSELLE, AL - The North AL Preseason All-State, one of the top events of the year, was held on Saturday, January 18th at Hartselle HS Indoor in Hartselle, AL. This event was an invite-only event that consisted of prospects from the 2025-2029 classes. These players went through extended pro-style workout that included batting practice using Trackman and Blast Motion, ran the 30-yard dash using VALD Performance due to weather, and much more. Pitchers were able to throw in simulated bullpens during the workout and were able to get numbers and metrics off of our Trackman unit, such as pitch velocity, spin rate, horizontal & vertical movement & much more. There were some players who showed up and continued to build off of prior performances, but there were also some new names who jumped onto our radar with a strong showing on Saturday.

Kicking off our post-event coverage for this event, we conclude our Quick Hits edition by highlighting some of the top pitchers in attendance at the event. Please continue to check back over the next week, as we will release other leaderboards and individual scouting reports on each player present at the event. 

Evan Malone RHP / Northridge, AL / 2026

Alabama recruit. 6-foot-2, 230-pounds. Strong, durable frame. Has added some noticeable strength since the summer. Currently ranked as the No. 2 right-handed pitcher in the 2026 class and No. 7 overall. Coming off a strong summer on the circuit, capped off with a standout performace at the Future Games and a commitment to Alabama in the fall. Possesses a strong pitcher's build and pairs it with a power three-pitch arsenal. During his bullpen, the right-hander ranged 89-90 mph and peaked at 91.0 mph with natural arm-side run and an average of 2264 RPM to the pitch. Has late life through the zone using a long, loose arm with whip through the action. Pairs his fastball with a firm, hard slider that features signifcant horizontal movement. Sitting 79-82 mph, Malone has the ability to tunnel it off the fastball by staying on the same plane and generating late lateral bite. Rounds out the three-pitch mix with an 81-82 mph changeup that averaged 21.1 in. of fading action. Has some athleticism moving down the mound with likely more to come in the future using his physical build.

Layton Pohl RHP / OF / New Hope, AL / 2026

Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 190-pounds. Strong build with proportional strength. Explosive athlete with loads of physical tools at the disposal. One of the top two-way prospects in the 2026 class in Alabama, but showing more potential upside and a higher ceiling on the mound. Ranked No. 11 overall in the junior class in Alabama and a former Future Gamer from this past summer. Builds tempo with a rocker step throughout the beginning of the delivery, and explodes down the mound using his advanced physical strength and some athleticism. Compact, two-piece arm action coming out of a H 3/4 arm slot. Hard-throwing right-hander with two distinct breaking balls. Fastball generates natural arm-side action at times sitting 90-91 mph and topping at 91.5 mph. Has been as high as 93.3 mph at the Future Games this summer. Slider looks to be better breaking ball, spinning a firm 76-80 mph with tight, horizontal movement and an average spin rate of 2263 RPM. Curveball shows more 11-5 shape and sweeping action, ranging 74-75 mph and registered an average spin rate of 2198 RPM. Also showcased some feel to turn over a 79-80 mph fading changeup that averaged 15.4 in. of horizontal movement. Physical right-hander at the plate, who posted a top EV of 93.7 mph, but has been as high as 104.8 mph at a previous event. High-level uncommitted prospect to get eyes on this spring.

Branson Hogan RHP / Chelsea, AL / 2026

Uncommitted. 6-foot-0, 178-pounds. Medium, athletic build. Another Future Gamer from this past summer where he arguably had the best outing for Team Alabama and looks poised for a strong junior campaign. Ranked as one of the top uncommitted pitchers in the 2026 class in Alabama. Possesses an up-tempo delivery and builds up momentum during the delivery. Quick, H 3/4 arm slot that produces a high-octane arsenal during his bullpen. Sitting consistently at 90-91 mph and peaking at 91.2 mph, the fastball has quality life through the zone and plays up a tick due to his elite extension, which averaged 7.8 ft. throughout his 18-pitch outing. Flashes a power slider for his primary off-speed offering, ranging 77-79 mph and registering an average spin rate of 2294 PM. Has short, late action to it and tunnels well off the fastball. Rounds out the three-pitch mix with a fading changeup that operated at 80-82 mph and averaged 15.8 in. of horizontal movement. Some effort in the delivery, but has shown good control of his impressive three-pitch mix and is another high-level uncommitted follow for the upcoming spring season.

Bryant Diddell RHP / Mountain Brook, AL / 2026

Uncommitted. 6-foot-0, 185-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted build with projection. One of my favorite arms on the event, and not because of the velocity, but the feel to pitch/strike-throwing ability and high-level metrics on the fastball. Another talented uncommitted right-hander in the 2026 class in Alabama who is certain to make a jump in the next rankings cycle and has a chance to pop this spring. Pitching from a smooth, easy delivery, the junior moves down the mound well with quality movement patterns and ability to repeat his delivery. Possesses arguably the best fastball at the event, the right-hander poured in strikes with the pitch while sitting 85-87 mph and peaking at 87.6 mph with likely more in the tank. Registering an average induced vertical break of 19.5 in. and spin rate of 2291 RPM, the fastball has the true definition of late life and carry through the zone, and is easy to see in the video provided below. More than likely will play best at the top of the zone with ability to get swings-and-misses over barrels. Features a slurvy breaking ball ranging 71-72 mph that was landed consistently in the zone, and has feel for a diving changeup at 73-74 mph. Pitching appears to be in their family bloodlines, as his older brother Kenneth is the AHSAA all-time saves leader and pitching at Shelton State CC currently.

Dalton Dardin RHP / SS / Grissom, AL / 2027

Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 157-pounds. Lean, athletic build with high projection and potential upside. A big riser in the most-recent rankings update to the Class of 2026 and continues to show some intriguing stuff on the mound. Checks off a slot of boxes being an easy, athletic mover, excellent feel for spin on a high-spin breaking ball, and quality strike-throwing ability. Using an athletic delivery, the sophomore showcased one of the smooth, athletic deliveries from the event and has built a strong foundation to build on in the coming years. Sitting 84-85 mph and peaking at 85.8 mph, Dardin flooded the zone with his running fastball that averaged 11.9 in. of horizontal movement and moved it both sides of the plate. Spinning slurvy type breaking ball that is a mix of a slider/curveball, the right-hander generates higher spin rates that averaged 2538 RPM on the pitch while locating it to the bottom of the zone. Can even continue to improve the offering by firming it up and changing it to a true slider in the future. Also showcased a fading changeup at 76-77 mph that average 17.1 in. of horizontal movement. Well-rounded three-pitch mix that should only continue to improve and be refined. Was 81-82 mph early last summer, and has been as high as 88 mph in this past fall with future jumps likely.

Brayden Dockery RHP / Helena, AL / 2026

Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 198-pounds. Medium build with some present strength. Room to add proportional strength in the future. A top-20 ranked prospect in the 2026 class in Alabama who is worth getting eyes on this spring. The right-hander showcases a well-rounded three-pitch repertoire during his bullpen, and combines it with some competitive traits he's showed in previous in-game looks. Sitting 86-87 mph and peaking at 88.0 mph, the junior produces sizable arm-side run to his fastball with some late life through the zone. Also features some sink when located at the bottom of the zone, and has the ability to move it around to different parts of the zone. Features a gradual slider ranging 75-77 mph as his primary off-speed offering, and has shown no issues throwing it in any count in the past. Has 11-5 break to it while showcasing some solid feel for spin and ability to land it for called strikes. Changeup is a quality third offering that operates 80-81 mph with good diving action. Has a quality mix of pitches and worked out of the stretch primarily. Looking for a big junior campaign after delivering some key innings for Helena as a sophomore.

Will Votroubek RHP / James Clemens, AL / 2026

Uncommitted. 6-foot-2, 189-pounds. Stronger, workhorse-type build with added strength. Since the summer, the right-hander has added roughly 15 pounds of good strength to his frame and has already seen a small uptick in velocity. Pitching from the stretch, Votroubek showcased a lively fastball that lived 87-88 mph consistently while peaking at 88.3 mph, and carried quality through the zone with an average induced vertical break of 16.5 in. Has an aggressive delivery down the mound and incorporates his new-found strength well. Pairing it with a firmer breaking ball at 75-78 mph, the right-hander generates some sweeping action to the pitch with -16.1 in. of horizontal movement and showed a solid feel to land it for strikes in the zone. Also featured a power changeup at 81-82 mph with fading action as a third offering. Has impressive, swing-and-miss type stuff when it's located in the zone, and has a chance to make a big splash on the recruiting scene this spring and into the summer.

Maxwell Kimbrell RHP / 3B / Hartselle, AL / 2030

Uncommitted. 6-foot-0, 175-pounds. Lean, athletic delivery with obvious projection and upside. The youngest player in attendance being a seventh-grader in middle school, but arguably had the most impressive bullpen out of any pitcher in attendance with all-things considered. Utilizing an athletic delivery that he repeats well, the right-hander operated at 82-84 mph during his bullpen, and topped out at 85.0 mph with an average induced vertical break of 16.3 in. and average spin rate of 2207 RPM, certainly ++ metrics for his age. But it may not have been his best pitch, as he showcased an advanced breaking ball that ranged 71-74 mph that showcased hard sweeping action and an average spin rate of 2626 RPM (T2729 RPM). Very few underclassmen in high school have the ability to spin a type of breaking ball Kimbrell has, let alone a seventh-grader. Rounding out the arsenal, his changeup was equally as impressive of a pitch sitting at 80-81 mph and generating 15.8 in. of horizontal movement. Not just a middle school player who is advanced physically and just throws harder than everyone else in his grade. Kimbrell truly has a feel to pitch and compliments it with two quality secondary offerings. Still a very long way to go in the process of physical maturation and development as a prospect, but a super-impressive talent nonetheless.

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